Nick Kyrgios defends tennis rival who was dumped for allegedly calling his opponent a “f***ing moron” in Russian

Andrey Rublev has been banned from the Dubai Tennis Championships semi-finals for unsportsmanlike conduct after shouting at a linesman in the final set of a tense match against Alexander Bublik.

However, Australian tennis firebrand Nick Kyrgios has defended his Russian rival, saying he should never have been breached.

In a chaotic match in which both competitors angered the referees at several points, Rublev was suspended by the chair umpire after Russian-speaking chair umpire Miriam Bley accused him of using an obscenity, while yelling at the chair umpire. line.

Bublik tried to convince Bley and ATP supervisor Roland Herfel to continue playing, but the call was made and the match ended.

He was suspended and expelled from the match after the Russian-speaking chair umpire said he had used a Russian obscenity.

Herfelt asked the linesman: Did he say ‘damn idiot’?

Rublev intervened: I didn’t say ‘fuck’. What do you mean ‘fuck’? I did not say that! It is a big lie! I swear… I didn’t say that.

A confused Bublik, who came back from a set down to lead 6-7(7/4), 7-6(7/5), 6-5, took the win despite saying he would be happy to continue. the match.

Kyrgios, who has only played one competitive tennis match since the 2022 Wimbledon final as he battles injuries, applauded Bublik on social media platform X but also defended Rublev.

‘Bublik class, saying he wanted to continue. I respect. I feel for Rublev. It did not justify a breach,” Kyrgios posted.

Rublev, disappointed, congratulates Bublik after his exclusion from the match in Dubai

Kyrgios has spent more time commentating tennis than playing since the 2022 Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic

Many of Kyrgios’ supporters disagreed, saying the punishment fit the crime.

“Serena (Williams) has been breached for less or similar, so why shouldn’t Rublev?” asked a follower.

‘Nick…screaming inches from someone’s face is not cool…no matter what they said. You just can’t do that in society,” added another.

Another follower agreed, posting: “To be honest, YOU have said and done way worse things and were never backed into.”

Bublik was confused by the result and regretted the way it ended for his rival.

‘I very much doubt that Andrey said anything crazy. He is not this kind of person. But I guess those are the rules. That’s what they did, they just followed the procedure,” Bublik told reporters.

‘There is not much to say. With all due respect, it was a great game and we both deserved to win.

“I wish Andrey to return to normal as soon as possible.”